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- I Cast...Brainstorm issue 26!
I Cast...Brainstorm issue 26!
A weekly newsletter of ideas and advice for D&D Dungeon Masters, players, and fans
Dave Palmer
October 3rd, 2025
This week — A Cartoon, Adventure Hooks, and a Wilderness Encounter
Thanks for reading I Cast…Brainstorm!, a weekly newsletter with ideas and advice to help make DM-ing and playing D&D (and other TTRPGs) easier and more fun.
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In this issue...
The Wizard Says…
“Ha HA! I was right. It IS immune to lightning damage!”
This week we completed our second playtest of the level 1 adventure I wrote — the first of nine adventures taking characters up to level 9 or 10. It was so much fun to watch the players engage with situations and NPCs I created! They made some amazing, interesting choices that I didn’t expect, and were just fun to watch, (I was observing, not DMing). At the end of the day, reviews were…mixed? They liked some parts though, including the world-building, so I’ll take the minor win, and will start my rewrite. Then — more play testing!
I had to miss the only game I play in this week, (sad emoji!), and only ran two sessions — my weekly Tuesday night Rime game, and my game with the fun chaos agents in my weekend group. The weekend game includes two friends I’ve known for over 40 years(!). We used to play D&D together as teenagers, very Stranger Things-like, (yes, usually in a basement), and I love the loose, chaotic feel of the stories we tell together. The group is growing, too — we’re now five players strong, which should only increase the mayhem!
May all your games be full of fun pandemonium this week!
Adventure Hooks
Serious
A day’s ride up the road is the site of a horrific battle — just follow the circling ravens. The grisly scene is the aftermath of the most recent altercation between the Fairgreen and Levenden clans, two farming families who have been at war for generations. Rumor has it this might be the end of the feud, too. The tale is that only one member of each family survived that last battle, and have paused only to bury their dead. Any day now they mean to finish the feud, once and for all.
Spooky
A cowled figure has been sitting in the darkest corner of the Paltry Cauldron’s common room for hours, with an untouched mug of ale in front of them. As night falls, you watch a serving lass approach his table and place a candle upon it, then she recoils in horror. Her retreat across the room was swift, and now you can barely hear her terrified whispers to the tavern keep behind the counter — “I swear, Gillem, the man has no face!”
Silly
Sir Dryten of Mrinx passed through town about a week ago, and the poor knight just wasn’t himself. He looked tired and unkempt, and barely said two words as he restocked and headed out again. Oh, he’s just as handsome as ever, say those who saw him, but clearly his quest to find the hedge wizard who cursed him with that magnificent, rainbow-hued horsetail is taking a toll. How he manages with the constant tinkling bells sound coming off the tail every time he moves, I don’t know — though someone did hear him mutter that he’d give his magnificent sword, The Blazesaber, to whoever helps him end the curse!
A Wilderness Encounter
If you’d like to build out your game world, or need something for your players to encounter as they travel to and fro, or would like to introduce an NPC or piece of information or some lore, this encounter might be just the thing.
The Lady and the Assassin
Rain is coming down hard when PCs come upon an old man in mud-spattered finery, wrestling with a broken cartwheel. A young woman in a hooded cloak tries, unsuccessfully, to calm two horses as she watches the man at the back of the cart. He curses as he hammers at the wheel with a large rock, trying to knock it off its axle.
If the PCs engage in conversation, the woman is polite but not talkative. The man is gregarious and friendly, however. He gives his names as Lar Highroad, a merchant of fine fabrics, and introduces the woman as his apprentice, Zyri. He says they’re on their way to pick up a shipment of wares from an intermediary a few days ride ahead, but the busted wheel will certainly make them late for the meeting. He’s happy to have help removing the wheel, however, so he can try to repair the wheel enough to make the trip.
Whether or not the PCs help with the wheel, after a few minutes, six figures on horses approach through the gloom, coming from all sides and surrounding the cart, the man, and the young girl, (and the PCs, if they’re close to the cart). A strong-looking woman rides closest and lifts a heavy crossbow, then aims it at Lar.
“Not sure how far you thought you could get, Brellym, but let’s be civilized and head back. The Queen is anxious to get Lady Hollen safely home.”
The young woman speaks in a cold voice, and pulls a dagger from her sleeve. “Touch me, Marga, and I will cut out your eyes.”
The names “Lar” gave the PCs are fake, and their names are really Brellym and Hollen. A DC 17 Insight check at any point before Marga arrives can reveal that Brellym is lying about something, if the PCs are suspicious.
Hollen Varagond is indeed a the daughter of a regional noble, though her father has recently died. Hollen suspected her mother of murdering him, though she had no evidence — that is, until Brellym appeared at her chambers. Brellym is an infamous assassin who was hired by Lady Varagond to poison Hollen. Unbenownst to the murderous noblewomen, he’s also a old friend of the deceased Lord Varagond.
Brellym’s attempt to get Hollen to safety has just been interrupted by Lady Varagond’s unscrupulous sentinel, Marga, and a retinue of her loyal guard. How the moment plays out is up to you the DM, and your player’s choices.
Brainstorming Links
You probably already know about the folks below, who are real inspirations to me, but if not, do yourself a favor and check them out.
The Arcane Library — masterpiece adventures, and Shadowdark, too!
https://www.thearcanelibrary.com
The Angry DM — so angry….so many great ideas….
https://theangrygm.com/
DMDave — on point analysis of D&D rules, and a ton of fun ideas
https://bsky.app/profile/dmdave.bsky.social
RPGBot — whip smart critique and explanations of 5e rules
https://rpgbot.net/
Sly Flourish — a DM’s best friend who is also a better DM
https://www.slyflourish.com/
Treantmonk — years of helpful advice and clever ideas
https://www.youtube.com/@TreantmonksTemple
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What I’m DM-ing
A high-level campaign via Roll20 using 2014 5th edition rules.
A weekly Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign, in-person, with 2024 5th edition rules
A series of one-shots in a bi-weekly game at a bar in LA. If you’re interested in joining in, invites are sent via the Partiful app, and you can sign up at Ye Rustic Inn — 1831 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, California.
Two different campaigns with my kids, (Rime and Storm Kings Thunder) when schedules align
What I’m Playing
Vecna: Eve of Ruin as Clybb Thistlebridge, a 12th level Halfling great-weapon Fighter
Hearthstone — find me at BigKahuna (#1802) if you’d like to play
Gifts for Gamers
You can also check out great gifts for the gamers in your life at Total Party Kits, which features all-original designs by yours truly on shirts, hats, mugs and other gifts!
www.totalpartykits.etsy.com
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If you have an online store that sells D&D or TTRPG themed things, let me know — I’d love to add it here.
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The original ideas in this issue of I Cast….Brainstorm! are covered under the Creative Commons BY-SA license — all content is free to use (including commercially) and change, with proper attribution.
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